Interpretation and Translation Services

Supporting Students and Families with Interpretation and Translation Services

Posted on 10/09/2017

In the 2016-17 school year, 13,600 students who use a home language other than English attend Seattle Public Schools. With more than 54,000 students, that is approximately 25 percent of all students and their families.

Recently the English Language Learners (ELL) department introduced an upcoming policy to affirm rights to translation and interpretation. Though this action is mandated by state and federal law, our district has many supports in place, and seeks to put a policy in place to continue the great work already happening across our schools and central office.

Website

Over the summer, we redesigned district and school websites. The new layout features links to crucial information for our families that has been translated by our team in to the six top languages. Additionally, each page on the district website can be translated into home language. You find links to the translated pages on our Translation and Interpretation webpage.

Critical Communications and Forms

Vital documents, such as time sensitive districtwide key communications, are translated into the top four languages at minimum, and sent directly to families in the language they self select.

School-based Staff

Many schools have staff to provide translations on site for school related communications and special requests such as flyers for school-based events or family engagement meetings.

District Central Office Staff

Our ELL team, which is organized within the Office of Student Supports, has been working to share information. We train staff on all the resources available and provide best practices for reaching all of our families. Please visit our webpage for more information about the services and work of the ELL department.